First World Problems?

Oftentimes they phrase "first world problems" is used when a person from The United States (at least where I'm from) complains about something but then acknowledges that it was trivial in comparison to problems other countries may experience. For example if someone were to complain about the WiFi being too slow they may tack "first world problems" on to the end to say they could have it a lot worse. Even though this is a simple joking line it really does go deeper. There are countries that have beyond what we think of when talking about problems that occur in third world countries. There are people in places like Brazil and Indonesia that have close to nothing, but are still able to live and prove a point through what is considered "rebellious" music. What we consider "third world problems" barely scratch the surface of problems that actually occur.

Punk music is often misunderstood as young people just being obnoxious, when in reality people use punk music to get out their anger towards the "system" or, capitalism. We are all connected to the countries represented in the film. They make so many of the products that we pay way too much for everyday. While we are paying 100 dollars for a pair of shoes, they are getting paid two dollars a day. A lot of this also has to do with the intersection of two countries government. It is our government that decides to give them business or not.  People, like the ones in the documentary "The Punks are Alright!", work in factories making things like shoes and wires that we use here in America. These people are paid sometimes less than two dollars a day and have to make extensive travel arrangements to get to and from work. If we didn't send our business there however, we would be taking any money possible away from them, so it is really a complicated situation. Without us they would not have such complicated work situations, but they also would not have work at all.

 The youth plays a huge part in these third world countries. There are several of them that do not want to grow up and work in the drug business like the rest of the people in their areas have. I honestly did not think about the students that actually wanted to become something. I also did not think about how much pain and trouble these students really have to go through. If they don't get to eat at school, they don't get to eat at all, no part of where they live is safe, and violence and rape are regular. That is a terrible environment for anyone to grow up in, and all one young girl asks is that we stop thinking of ourselves and start thinking of the third world countries This is such a powerful statement, and something that everybody living in a first world country needs to sit back and think about.  Even young youth like this can find pleasure in punk music. They are able to scream out their anger and be mad at the life they have had to live without actually hurting anything. This music gives them something to invest in. Instead of being on the streets at night with the drugs and violence, they are in their garages making music that gets their feelings out in a safe and effective way.

The artists in this movie have had very rough lives. Luckily I have been fortunate enough to grow up in a small farm town in Indiana where drugs and violence exist but are not participated in often. But, I still have my own internal conflict that I feel, just like them. Even though the circumstances and styles are different I often turn to music when I need to let my emotions out in a way that does not hurt myself or anyone else. Religion is also something they have to deal with every day. I do not get weird looks when I walk in to my church but there are ladies that are actually rude to these people when they walk into church because of how they dress and the kind of music they play. This is actually a very hypocritical thing for them to do, and I think that probably adds to why they perform punk rock. They have to keep their religion a secret because they do not want to be judged, where as I am very proud and able to talk of my beliefs.

The punks are not out to be rebels and destroy the peace. They simply need a way to let out their emotions without being violent.